JP2006295494A - Imaging apparatus, control method thereof, and computer program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To record a focused image even if starting the photography of an animation in an imaging apparatus having a still image photography function and an animation photography function. <P>SOLUTION: When a focus lock state for maintaining the focused state of automatic focus processing for still images is set by pressing a shutter button by one step, the recording processing of moving images is started while the focused state of the automatic focus processing for still images is maintained by pressing a moving image recording button 68, thus focusing a subject when the photography of the moving image is started, and avoiding the inconveniences of recording a blurred image when the photography of the moving image is started. When the shutter button is released during the recording of the moving image, the automatic focus processing for the moving image is started, thus recording the moving image focused by following a change in the subject. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an imaging device having a still image shooting function and a moving image shooting function, a method for controlling the imaging device, and a computer program.

  Some imaging devices such as digital cameras have a moving image shooting function in addition to a normal still image shooting function. In such a digital camera, a still image shooting mode for shooting a still image and a moving image shooting mode for shooting a movie are individually set, and the mode is changed by a user operation such as a key operation.

  As this type of imaging apparatus, for example, an electronic camera disclosed in Patent Document 1 performs a continuous focusing operation while a moving image is being recorded, and a still image recording operation is started while the moving image recording operation is being performed. The continuous focusing operation being performed is stopped. However, at the time of still image shooting during moving image shooting, simply stopping the moving image autofocus process and maintaining the focused state does not necessarily result in a focused state suitable for still image shooting.

  The still camera integrated video camera disclosed in Patent Document 2 includes a video camera that records a video signal of a moving image obtained by imaging a subject on a magnetic tape, and a still camera that exposes a still image of the subject on a photographic film. It has an integral structure, and can perform automatic focus control of the video camera based on distance measurement data measured by a distance measuring device provided in the still camera. However, the still image autofocus processing cannot follow the change of the subject, and is not necessarily in a focused state suitable for moving image shooting.

JP 2000-224458 A JP-A-8-304917

  As described above, in a digital camera having a still image shooting function and a moving image shooting function and having operation members for still image shooting and moving image shooting, an autofocus control that performs a focusing operation once at the time of still image shooting ( Single AF) is performed, and autofocus control (Continuous AF) is performed to perform continuous focusing during moving image shooting.

  However, if the continuous AF is started after moving image shooting is started, moving image shooting may be started from a state where it is not in focus. In addition, there is a problem that even if the in-focus state is subsequently obtained, the focus position is not necessarily desired by the user.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to enable recording of an image at a focal position desired by a user from the start of moving image shooting.

The imaging apparatus according to the present invention includes a first focus lens driving unit that drives a focus lens and then stops driving the focus lens, a second focus lens driving unit that continuously drives the focus lens, and instructs to record a moving image. And when the focus lens is driven by the second focus lens driving unit according to the moving image recording instruction unit and the focus lens driving is stopped by the first focus driving unit. Control means for restricting driving of the focus lens by the second focus lens driving means when the moving image recording instruction means is operated.
Another image pickup apparatus of the present invention is an image pickup apparatus having a still image recording function and a moving image recording function, and includes a first autofocus operation used for recording a still image and a first image used for recording a moving image. And an operation means for applying the first autofocus operation when recording a moving image.
Another imaging apparatus of the present invention includes a focus lock operation unit that gives an instruction to lock and unlock the drive of the focus lens, and when there is a lock instruction by the focus lock operation unit, an autofocus process is executed, While maintaining the position of the focus lens, the autofocus process is limited until an unlock instruction is issued when an instruction to record a moving image is issued in that state.
An image pickup apparatus control method according to the present invention is a method for controlling an image pickup apparatus having a still image recording function and a moving image recording function, and having a moving image recording instruction means for instructing moving image recording, in accordance with the moving image recording instruction means. While the focus lens is driven, the operation of the focus lens is restricted when the moving image recording instruction unit is operated while the drive of the focus lens is locked.
Another method for controlling an image pickup apparatus according to the present invention is a method for controlling an image pickup apparatus having a still image recording function and a moving image recording function, and a step of performing a first autofocus operation used during still image recording; The method includes a step of performing a second autofocus operation used in moving image recording, and a step of applying the first autofocus operation in moving image recording.
Another imaging apparatus control method according to the present invention is a control method for an imaging apparatus having focus lock operation means for giving instructions to lock and unlock the drive of the focus lens, and the lock instruction is given by the focus lock operation means. In this case, the auto focus process is executed to maintain the position of the focus lens, and the auto focus process is limited until an unlock instruction is given when an instruction to record a moving image is issued in that state. To do.
A computer program of the present invention is a computer program for controlling an imaging apparatus having a still image recording function and a moving image recording function and having a moving image recording instruction means for instructing moving image recording, in accordance with the moving image recording instruction means. Driving the focus lens, and if the operation of the moving image recording instruction unit is operated while the drive of the focus lens is locked, causing the computer to execute a process of restricting the drive of the focus lens. And

  According to the present invention, it is easy to use for maintaining the focus lens focused on the subject desired by the user from the start of moving image shooting.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an imaging apparatus 100 according to an embodiment to which the present invention is applied. In the figure, reference numeral 10 denotes a photographing lens including a zoom lens and a focus lens. Reference numeral 12 denotes a shutter having an aperture function. An image sensor 14 converts an optical image into an electric signal. Reference numeral 16 denotes an A / D converter that converts an analog signal output of the image sensor 14 into a digital signal.

  A timing generation circuit 18 supplies a clock signal and a control signal to the image sensor 14, the A / D converter 16, and the D / A converter 26, and is controlled by the memory control circuit 22 and the system control circuit 50.

  An image processing circuit 20 performs predetermined pixel interpolation processing and color conversion processing on the data from the A / D converter 16 or the data from the memory control circuit 22. The image processing circuit 20 performs predetermined calculation processing using the captured image data, and the system control circuit 50 controls the exposure control unit 40 and the distance measurement control unit 42 based on the obtained calculation result. TTL (through-the-lens) AF (autofocus) processing, AE (automatic exposure) processing, and EF (flash pre-emission) processing are performed. Further, the image processing circuit 20 performs predetermined arithmetic processing using the captured image data, and also performs TTL AWB (auto white balance) processing based on the obtained arithmetic result.

  A memory control circuit 22 controls the A / D converter 16, the timing generation circuit 18, the image processing circuit 20, the image display memory 24, the D / A converter 26, the memory 30, and the compression / decompression circuit 32. The data of the A / D converter 16 is sent to the image display memory 24 or the memory 30 via the image processing circuit 20 and the memory control circuit 22, or the data of the A / D converter 16 is directly sent to the image display memory 24 or the memory 30 via the memory control circuit 22. Written.

  Reference numeral 24 denotes an image display memory. Reference numeral 26 denotes a D / A converter. Reference numeral 28 denotes an image display unit composed of a TFT LCD or the like, and display image data written in the image display memory 24 is displayed by the image display unit 28 via the D / A converter 26. An electronic viewfinder (EVF) function can be realized by sequentially displaying image data captured using the image display unit 28. The image display unit 28 can arbitrarily turn on / off the display according to an instruction from the system control circuit 50. When the display is turned off, the power consumption of the imaging apparatus 100 can be significantly reduced. it can.

  Reference numeral 30 denotes a memory for storing captured still images and moving image data, and has a sufficient storage capacity for storing a predetermined number of still image data and a predetermined time of moving image data. This makes it possible to write a large amount of images to the memory 30 at high speed even in continuous shooting or panoramic shooting in which a plurality of still images are continuously shot. The memory 30 can also be used as a work area for the system control circuit 50.

  Reference numeral 32 denotes a compression / decompression circuit that compresses and decompresses image data by adaptive discrete cosine transform (ADCT) or the like, reads an image stored in the memory 30, performs compression processing or decompression processing, and stores the processed data in the memory 30. Write to.

  Reference numeral 40 denotes an exposure control unit that controls the shutter 12 having an aperture function, and has a flash light control function in cooperation with the flash 48. A distance measuring control unit 42 controls focusing of the photographing lens 10. The exposure control unit 40 and the distance measurement control unit 42 are controlled using the TTL method. Based on the calculation result obtained by calculating the captured image data by the image processing circuit 20, the system control circuit 50 performs the exposure control unit 40 and the distance measurement. The controller 42 is controlled.

  A zoom control unit 44 controls zooming of the photographing lens 10. A barrier control unit 46 controls the operation of the barrier 102. A flash 48 has an AF auxiliary light projecting function and a flash light control function.

  Reference numeral 50 denotes a system control circuit that controls the entire imaging apparatus 100. A memory 52 stores constants, variables, programs, and the like for operating the system control circuit 50. Reference numeral 54 denotes a display unit configured by a combination of LEDs, sounding elements, and the like that indicate an operation state in accordance with execution of a program in the system control circuit 50. Reference numeral 56 denotes an electrically erasable / recordable nonvolatile memory such as an EEPROM.

  Reference numerals 60, 61, 62, 64, 66, 68, 69, and 70 are operation members for inputting various operation instructions of the system control circuit 50, and are switches, dials, touch panels, pointing by line-of-sight detection, and voice recognition devices. Or a combination of one or more of the above.

  Here, a specific description of these operation members will be given. Reference numeral 60 denotes a power switch for turning on / off the power of the imaging apparatus 100. 61 is an auto shooting mode that automatically performs all shooting-related controls such as exposure control, white balance control, and focus control, manual shooting mode that manually performs shooting-related controls, movie shooting mode that performs movie shooting, and playback mode This is a mode dial.

  Reference numeral 62 denotes a shutter switch SW1, which is turned on when the shutter button is pressed one step and starts operations such as AF (auto focus) processing, AE (auto exposure) processing, AWB (auto white balance) processing, and EF (flash pre-flash) processing. Instruct. Reference numeral 64 denotes a shutter switch SW2, which is turned on when the shutter button is pressed twice, and an exposure process in which a signal read from the image sensor 14 is written as image data in the memory 30 via the A / D converter 16 and the memory control circuit 22, A series of development processes using operations in the image processing circuit 20 and the memory control circuit 22, a recording process in which image data is read from the memory 30, compressed by the compression / decompression circuit 32, and written to the recording medium 200 or 210. The operation start of the process is instructed.

  Reference numeral 66 denotes an image display switch, which can turn on / off the image display unit 28. With this function, when photographing is performed using the optical viewfinder 104, it is possible to save power by cutting off the current supply to the image display unit 28 including a TFT LCD or the like.

  Reference numeral 68 denotes a moving image recording button, which is an exposure process in which a signal read from the image sensor 14 is written as image data into the memory 30 via the A / D converter 16 and the memory control circuit 22, and the image processing circuit 20 and the memory control circuit 22 Start and stop operations for recording as a moving image by repeating development processing using the above calculation, image data read from the memory 30, compression by the compression / decompression circuit 32, and writing the image data to the recording medium 200 or 210 Can do.

  Reference numeral 69 denotes an autofocus lock button for instructing locking / unlocking of AF (autofocus) processing, and setting the AF (autofocus) processing to be temporarily prohibited and resumed for the distance measurement control unit 42. Can do.

  Reference numeral 70 denotes an operation unit including various buttons, a touch panel, and the like, a menu button, a set button, a macro button, a multi-screen playback page break button, a flash setting button, a single shooting / continuous shooting / self-timer switching button, menu movement + (plus ) Button, menu movement-(minus) button, reproduction image movement + (plus) button, reproduction image-(minus) button, shooting image quality selection button, exposure correction button, date / time setting button, and the like.

  A power control unit 80 includes a battery detection circuit, a DC-DC converter, a switch circuit that switches a block to be energized, and the like. The power supply control unit 80 detects the presence / absence of a battery, the type of battery, and the remaining battery level, controls the DC-DC converter based on the detection result and instructions from the system control circuit 50, and requires the necessary voltage. It is supplied to each part including the recording medium for a long period.

  Reference numerals 82 and 84 denote connectors, 86 denotes a primary battery such as an alkaline battery or lithium battery, a secondary battery such as a NiCd battery, NiMH battery, or Li battery, an AC adapter, or the like.

  90 and 94 are interfaces with a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk, 92 and 96 are connectors for connecting to a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk, and 98 is a recording medium 200 or 210 attached to the connectors 92 or 96. It is a recording medium attachment / detachment detection unit that detects whether or not there is. Although the present embodiment has been described as having two systems of interfaces and connectors for attaching a recording medium, a single or a plurality of three or more systems may be provided. Moreover, it is good also as a structure provided with combining the interface and connector of a different standard. The interface and the connector may be configured using a PCMCIA card, a CF (Compact Flash (registered trademark)) card, or the like that conforms to a standard. Further, when the interfaces 90 and 94 and the connectors 92 and 96 are configured using a PCMCIA card, a CF (Compact Flash (registered trademark)) card, or the like, a LAN card, a modem card, a USB card, IEEE1394. By connecting various types of communication cards such as cards, P1284 cards, SCSI cards, PHS and other communication cards, image data and management information attached to image data can be transferred to and from peripheral devices such as other computers and printers. Can fit.

  Reference numeral 102 denotes a barrier as a protective unit that covers the imaging unit including the photographing lens 10 of the imaging apparatus 100 to prevent the imaging unit from being contaminated or damaged.

  Reference numeral 104 denotes an optical viewfinder (OVF), which can take an image using only the optical viewfinder 104 without using the electronic viewfinder function of the image display unit 28. Further, in the optical viewfinder 104, some functions of the display unit 54 such as an in-focus display, a camera shake warning display, a flash charge display, a shutter speed display, an aperture value display, an exposure correction display, and the like are installed. .

  A communication unit 110 has various communication functions such as RS232C, USB, IEEE1394, P1284, SCSI, modem, LAN, and wireless communication. Reference numeral 112 denotes a connector for connecting the imaging apparatus 100 to another device by the communication unit 110 or an antenna in the case of wireless communication.

  Reference numeral 200 denotes a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk. The recording medium 200 includes a recording unit 202 composed of a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, and the like, an interface 204 with the imaging device 100, and a connector 206 that connects to the imaging device 100. Similarly, reference numeral 210 denotes a recording medium such as a memory card or a hard disk. The recording medium 210 includes a recording unit 212 composed of a semiconductor memory, a magnetic disk, and the like, an interface 214 with the imaging device 100, and a connector 216 that connects to the imaging device 100.

  Next, a processing operation in the imaging apparatus 100 of the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. After the power is turned on, the system control circuit 50 checks the state of the SW1 flag indicating whether or not the still image autofocus processing is completed by turning on the shutter switch SW1 indicating that the shutter button is pressed one step (step S1001). In the still image autofocus processing, the focus lens is driven over the focus lens driveable range while performing exposure control for autofocus and detecting the contrast of the image based on the signal from the image processing circuit 20. In the driving, the autofocus processing is such that a focusing operation is performed in which the focus lens is moved with the position having the highest contrast as the focusing position.

  If the SW1 flag is off in step S1001, that is, if the still image autofocus processing by turning on the shutter switch SW1 is not finished, the system control circuit 50 temporarily prohibits the autofocus processing by the autofocus lock button 69. The state of the AF Lock flag indicating whether or not there is checked (step S1002).

  If the AF Lock flag is off in step S1002, that is, if the autofocus processing is not temporarily prohibited by the autofocus lock button 69, the system control circuit 50 starts the moving image autofocus processing (step S1003). In the autofocus processing for moving images, the focus lens is driven within the focus lens driving range while detecting the contrast of the image based on the signal from the image processing circuit 20 while the exposure control is normal, and the contrast is set to a high position. Continue to move the focus lens. This is an autofocus process in which the focus lens is continuously driven to follow changes in the subject.

  If the moving image autofocus process is started in step S1003, the system control circuit 50 detects an input from the operation member for inputting an operation instruction (step S1004).

  If the SW1 flag is turned on in step S1001 (that is, the still image autofocus processing is completed by turning on the shutter switch SW1), or the AF Lock flag is turned on in step S1002 (that is, the autofocus lock button 69 causes If the focus process is temporarily restricted and prohibited), the process proceeds to step S1004 without performing the moving image autofocus process, and the system control circuit 50 detects the input from the operation member for inputting the operation instruction. Do.

  In step S1004, the system control circuit 50 repeats the input detection until an input is detected. If an input is detected, it is determined whether or not the detected input is the video recording button indicating that the video recording button 68 is pressed. In step S1005, if the moving image recording button is on, it is determined whether moving image recording is in progress (step S1006).

  If moving image recording is not in progress in step S1006, the pressing of the moving image recording button 68 instructs the start of moving image recording. Therefore, the system control circuit 50 outputs the signal read from the image sensor 14 to the A / D converter 16 and memory control. Exposure processing for writing image data into the memory 30 via the circuit 22, development processing using operations in the image processing circuit 20 and the memory control circuit 22, reading out the image data from the memory 30, and compression by the compression / decompression circuit 32 Then, the recording process for writing the image data to the recording medium 200 or 210 is repeated, and the start of the operation for recording the moving image is instructed (step S1007). When the moving image recording process is started in step S1007, the process returns to step S1001.

  On the other hand, if the moving image recording is being performed in step S1006, the pressing of the moving image recording button 68 instructs the moving image recording to stop after the moving image recording starts, so the system control circuit 50 stops the moving image recording process (step S1008). . When the moving image recording process is stopped in step S1008, the process returns to step S1001.

  Next, if the input detected in step S1005 is not on of the moving image recording button 68, the system control circuit 50 checks whether or not the detected input is on of the shutter switch SW1 (step S1009).

  If the input detected in step S1009 is on of the shutter switch SW1, the state of the SW1 flag indicating whether or not the still image autofocus processing by the on of the shutter switch SW1 is completed is checked (step S1010).

  In step S1010, if the SW1 flag is off, that is, if the still image autofocus processing by turning on the shutter switch SW1 is not completed, the system control circuit 50 temporarily prohibits the autofocus processing by the autofocus lock button 69. The state of the AF Lock flag indicating whether or not there is checked (step S1011).

  If the AF Lock flag is off in step S1011, that is, if the autofocus processing is not temporarily prohibited by the autofocus lock button 69, the system control circuit 50 executes still image autofocus processing (step S1012). As described above, the autofocus process for still images performs exposure control for autofocus and detects the contrast of the image based on the signal from the image processing circuit 20 while adjusting the focus lens drive range. This is an autofocus process in which a focusing operation is performed in which the lens is driven and the position with the highest contrast is set as the in-focus position, and the focus lens is moved to the in-focus position.

  If the still image autofocus processing is completed in step S1012, the SW1 flag is turned on (step S1013), and the process returns to step S1001.

  Note that if the SW1 flag is on in step S1010 (that is, the still image autofocus processing by turning on the shutter switch SW1 is completed), the process returns to step S1001. If the AF Lock flag is on in step S1011 (that is, autofocus processing is temporarily prohibited by the autofocus lock button 69), the SW1 flag is turned on (step S1013), and the process returns to step S1001.

  Next, if the shutter switch SW1 is not on in step S1009, the system control circuit 50 checks whether or not the detected input is off of the shutter switch SW1 indicating that the shutter button has been released (step S1014).

  If the input detected in step S1014 is OFF of the shutter switch SW1, the SW1 flag is turned OFF (step S1015), and the process returns to step S1001.

  Next, if the shutter switch SW1 is not turned off in step S1014, the system control circuit 50 checks whether or not the detected input is on of the shutter switch SW2 indicating that the shutter button is pressed twice (step S1016).

  If the input detected in step S1016 is ON of the shutter switch SW2, the system control circuit 50 outputs the signal read from the image sensor 14 to the memory 30 via the A / D converter 16 and the memory control circuit 22. Exposure processing for writing image data, development processing using operations in the image processing circuit 20 and the memory control circuit 22, reading out image data from the memory 30, compression in the compression / decompression circuit 32, and image data on the recording medium 200 or 210 A series of still image recording processing called recording processing is started (step S1017). When the still image recording process ends in step S1017, the process returns to step S1001.

  Next, if the shutter switch SW2 is not on in step S1016, the system control circuit 50 checks whether or not the detected input is AF Lock indicating that the autofocus lock button 69 is pressed (step S1018).

  If the input detected in step S1018 is AF Lock on, the system control circuit 50 checks the state of the AF Lock flag (step S1019).

  If the AF Lock flag is off in step S1019, the state of the SW1 flag is checked (step S1020).

  If the SW1 flag is off in step S1020, the system control circuit 50 executes a still image autofocus process (step S1021). As described above, the autofocus process for still images performs exposure control for autofocus and detects the contrast of the image based on the signal from the image processing circuit 20 while adjusting the focus lens drive range. This is an autofocus process in which the lens is driven and the position with the highest contrast is set as the focus position, and the focus lens is moved toward the focus position.

  When the still image autofocus processing is completed in step S1021, the AF Lock flag is turned on (step S1022), and the process returns to step S1001.

  If the input detected in step S1018 is not on of AF Lock, the process returns to step S1001. If the AF Lock flag is on in step S1019, the AF Lock flag is turned off (step S1023), and the process returns to step S1001. If the SW1 flag is on in step S1020, the AF Lock flag is turned on (step S1022), and the process returns to step S1001.

  Now, assuming that autofocus processing is not prohibited by the autofocus lock button 69, for example, when neither still image shooting nor moving image shooting is performed, moving image autofocus processing is started (step S1003), and moving image recording is performed. If the button 68 is pressed, the moving image recording process is started, and then the moving image recording button 68 is pressed again to stop the moving image recording process (steps S1004 to S1008).

  If neither the still image shooting nor the moving image shooting is performed, if the shutter button is pressed down one step (shutter switch SW1 is on) (steps S1004, S1005, S1009), the still image autofocus processing is executed. (Step S1012) When the SW1 flag is turned on (Step S1013), the moving image autofocus process in Step S1003 is not started (the focus lock state in which the in-focus state of the still image autofocus process is maintained). Thereafter, if the shutter button is pressed twice (shutter switch SW2 is on) (steps S1014 and S1016), the still image recording process is executed. If the shutter button is released from the state where the shutter button is pressed down (shutter switch SW1 is off) (step S1014), the SW1 flag is turned off (step S1015), and the moving image autofocus process in step S1003 is started.

  Similarly, even when a movie is being shot, if the shutter button is pressed down one step (shutter switch SW1 is on) (steps S1004, S1005, and S1009), the still image autofocus process is executed (step S1012). When the SW1 flag is turned on (step S1013), the moving image autofocus processing in step S1003 is not started (focus lock state for maintaining the in-focus state of the still image autofocus processing). Thereafter, if the shutter button is pressed twice (shutter switch SW2 is on) (steps S1014 and S1016), the still image recording process is executed. In this way, at the time of still image shooting during moving image shooting, instead of stopping the moving image autofocus processing and maintaining the focused state, the still image autofocus processing is executed, Since the focus lock state for maintaining the in-focus state is set, the in-focus state suitable for still image shooting can be obtained. If the shutter button is released from the state where the shutter button is pressed down (shutter switch SW1 is off) (step S1014), the SW1 flag is turned off (step S1015), and the moving image autofocus process in step S1003 is started.

  Further, when the shutter button is pressed one step (shutter switch SW1 is on) (steps S1004, S1005, and S1009), the moving image recording button 68 is pressed when the focus lock state is maintained to maintain the focus state of the still image autofocus processing. When pressed (steps S1004 and S1005), the moving image recording process is started in the in-focus state of the still image autofocus process (step S1007). Accordingly, the subject can be brought into focus at the start of moving image shooting, and the inconvenience that a blurred image is recorded at the start of moving image shooting can be avoided. In this case, if the shutter button is released during moving image recording (step S1014), the SW1 flag is turned off (step S1015), so that the moving image autofocus processing in step S1003 is started, and the subject changes. It is possible to record a moving image that follows and focuses.

  An object of the present invention is to supply a storage medium storing software program codes for realizing the functions of the above-described embodiments to a system or apparatus, and the computer (or CPU or MPU) of the system or apparatus stores the storage medium. Needless to say, this can also be achieved by reading and executing the program code stored in.

  In this case, the program code itself read from the storage medium realizes the functions of the above-described embodiments, and the program code itself and the storage medium storing the program code constitute the present invention.

  As a storage medium for supplying the program code, for example, a flexible disk, a hard disk, an optical disk, a magneto-optical disk, a CD-ROM, a CD-R, a magnetic tape, a nonvolatile memory card, a ROM, or the like can be used.

  Further, by executing the program code read by the computer, not only the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized, but also an OS (basic system or operating system) running on the computer based on the instruction of the program code. Needless to say, a case where the functions of the above-described embodiment are realized by performing part or all of the actual processing and the processing is included.

  Further, after the program code read from the storage medium is written to a memory provided in a function expansion board inserted into the computer or a function expansion unit connected to the computer, the function expansion is performed based on the instruction of the program code. It goes without saying that the CPU or the like provided in the board or function expansion unit performs part or all of the actual processing, and the functions of the above-described embodiments are realized by the processing.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the imaging device of embodiment to which this invention is applied. It is a figure explaining the processing operation in the imaging device of this embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10: Shooting lens 12: Shutter 14: Image pick-up element 20: Image processing circuit 22: Memory control circuit 32: Image compression / expansion circuit 40: Exposure control part 42: Ranging control part 44: Zoom control part 50: System control circuit 62 : Shutter switch SW1
64: Shutter switch SW2
68: Movie recording button 69: Autofocus lock button 100: Imaging device

Claims (10)

First focus lens driving means for stopping driving of the focus lens after driving the focus lens;
Second focus lens driving means for continuously driving the focus lens;
Video recording instruction means for instructing video recording;
In response to the moving image recording instruction means, the second focus lens driving means drives the focus lens, and when the driving of the focus lens is stopped by the first focus driving means, the moving image recording instruction means An image pickup apparatus comprising: control means for restricting driving of the focus lens by the second focus lens driving means when operated.   The imaging apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the focus lens is stopped after the focus lens is focused on a subject by the first focus driving unit.   Even when the moving image recording instruction unit is operated, the control unit is configured to perform the second focusing when the focus lens is stopped when the focus lens is stopped by the first focus driving unit. The imaging apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the focus lens is driven by a focus lens driving unit.   4. The first focus lens driving unit performs a focusing operation once, and the second focus lens driving unit performs a focusing operation continuously. The imaging device according to any one of the above. An imaging device having a still image recording function and a moving image recording function,
Autofocus means capable of performing a first autofocus operation used during still image recording and a second autofocus operation used during moving image recording;
An image pickup apparatus comprising: an operation unit for applying the first autofocus operation when recording a moving image. A focus lock operating means for instructing to lock and unlock the drive of the focus lens;
When there is a lock instruction by the focus lock operation means, the auto focus process is executed to maintain the position of the focus lens, and until there is an instruction to unlock when there is a video recording instruction in that state An image pickup apparatus that limits autofocus processing. A control method of an imaging apparatus having a still image recording function and a moving image recording function, and having a moving image recording instruction means for instructing moving image recording,
While driving the focus lens according to the moving image recording instruction means, if the moving image recording instruction means is operated while the driving of the focus lens is locked, the driving of the focus lens is limited. A control method for an imaging apparatus. A method for controlling an imaging apparatus having a still image recording function and a moving image recording function,
Performing a first autofocus operation used during still image recording;
Performing a second auto-focus operation used during video recording;
And a step of applying the first autofocus operation when recording a moving image. A control method for an imaging apparatus having focus lock operation means for giving instructions to lock and unlock the drive of a focus lens,
When there is a lock instruction by the focus lock operation means, the auto focus process is executed to maintain the position of the focus lens, and until there is an instruction to unlock when there is a video recording instruction in that state An image pickup apparatus control method, wherein autofocus processing is limited. A computer program for controlling an imaging apparatus having a still image recording function and a moving image recording function and having a moving image recording instruction means for instructing moving image recording,
While the focus lens is driven in accordance with the moving image recording instruction unit, when the operation of the moving image recording instruction unit is performed while the driving of the focus lens is locked, the process of restricting the driving of the focus lens is performed. A computer program that is executed by a computer.

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